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Repeat offender who almost severed man's arm in meat cleaver attack fails in appeal

Date
2016-01-19
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Patrick Healy, 31, of Buttercup Park, Darndale, was sentenced to 15 years in jail, with the final five years suspended, for a series of violent and dangerous driving offences committed between 2011 and 2013. He pleaded guilty to assaulting a man on the North Circular Road, where the victim's arm was almost severed by a meat cleaver, burglary and theft at Upper Kilmacud Road, unlawful vehicle taking and dangerous driving on the M50, and to dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm on Oscar Traynor Road, unlawful vehicle taking and driving under the influence. The judge, Pat McCartan, imposed consecutive terms of three years for the assault, four years for the burglary and theft, and eight years for the dangerous driving, suspending the last five years. Healy's appeal to reduce the sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal, where Justice Alan Mahon upheld the sentence as appropriate given the repeated and severe nature of the offences.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Repeat offender who almost severed man's arm in meat cleaver attack fails in appeal. Charges or matters: assaulting a man causing him harm on the North Circular Road on April 22, 2011; burglary and theft at Upper Kilmacud Road, unlawfully taking a car and dangerous driving on the M50 on December 12, 2011; dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to a motorist on Oscar Traynor Road, Coolock, in Dublin, the unauthorised taking of a vehicle and driving while under the influence on May 21, 2013. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Case subjects

Patrick Healy

Defendant

Charges: assaulting a man causing him harm on the North Circular Road on April 22, 2011; burglary and theft at Upper Kilmacud Road, unlawfully taking a car and dangerous driving on the M50 on December 12, 2011; dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to a motorist on Oscar Traynor Road, Coolock, in Dublin, the unauthorised taking of a vehicle and driving while under the influence on May 21, 2013 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Pat McCartan jailed Healy for 15 years with the final five suspended in total – three years for the assault, four years consecutive on the second bill of indictment and eight years consecutive with the final five suspended for dangerous driving causing serious bodily harm to a motorist. Healy lost an appeal against the severity of his sentence today on grounds that the sentencing judge failed to take account of the totality principle.

Places mentioned

Residence
  • Buttercup Park
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
  • Court of Appeal
Address Area
  • North Circular Road
Journey Or Route
  • Upper Kilmacud Road
  • Oscar Traynor Road
  • Dublin
Incident
  • North Circular Road

Topics

Burglary Road Traffic Stage Appeal Theft Violent Crime

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